Healthy eating: a new disorder?

According to British news source The Guardian, being overly fixated on healthy eating is now considered a disorder. Orthorexia nervosa is defined as a “fixation on righteous eating.” The Guardian reports that people “suffering” from this condition may refuse to touch foods such as sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn, and dairy foods, as well as any foods that have come into contact with herbicides, pesticides, and artificial ingredients.

I guess by that definition, I would qualify as an orthorexic. Apparently, now if you refuse to fill your body with unhealthy foods and dangerous chemicals, you are mentally ill.

I don’t doubt that there are people predisposed to obsessive behavior who take their dietary standards to an extreme. But the article fails to draw a distinction between those who are obsessive and those who make the same dietary choices in a healthy manner. It is irresponsible and inaccurate to imply that everyone who chooses to eliminate these foods from their diet is mentally ill, or that the standard American diet is healthy and should be the norm.

Foods such as grains, gluten, soy, corn, and milk have been linked to chronic health problems and conditions such as allergies, autism, attention deficit disorder, thyroid problems, anxiety, digestive disorders, depression, arthritis, neurological conditions, and even cancer. The standard American diet is full of chemicals, preservatives, and additive that can wreak havoc on the internal organs. Consumers are given enough nutritional misinformation without being told that their quest to adopt a healthier diet may indicate a mental disorder.

Please, do not be fooled by the media into thinking that being concerned about your health and diet is unnecessary or that it makes you mentally ill. Educate yourself. Sources like Mercola, Mark’s Daily Apple, and Natural News are full of nutritional information that the mainstream media denies or tries to keep under wraps.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

Karen

Karen Eisenbraun is a professional writer and a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant. She has written on the subjects of nutrition, yoga, and natural living for many leading websites, including Livestrong.com and Natural News. She is the Director of Content for a Platinum-level HubSpot partner agency specializing in healthcare marketing, and has been named one of the top 50 Inbound Marketing experts on Twitter. Learn more at kareneisenbraun.com

Tao Quote of the Day

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus honesty is attained.